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Acquisition Methods (acquisition + methods)
Selected AbstractsMRI-based morphometric analysis of typical and atypical brain developmentDEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RESEARCH REVIEW, Issue 3 2003David N. Kennedy Abstract The neuroinformatics landscape in which human brain morphometry occurs has advanced dramatically over the past few years. Rapid advancement in image acquisition methods, image analysis tools and interpretation of morphometric results make the study of in vivo anatomic analysis both challenging and rewarding. This has revolutionized our expectations for current and future diagnostic and investigative work with the developing brain. This paper will briefly cover the methods of morphometric analysis that available for neuroanatomic analysis, and tour some sample results from a prototype retrospective database of neuroanatomic volumetric information. From these observations, issues regarding the anatomic variability of developmental maturation of neuroanatomic structures in both typically and atypically developing populations can be discussed. MRDD Research Reviews 2003;9:155,160. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Low-complexity unambiguous acquisition methods for BOC-modulated CDMA signalsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORKING, Issue 6 2008Elena Simona Lohan Abstract The new M-code signals of GPS and the signals proposed for the future Galileo systems are of split-spectrum type, where the pseudorandom (PRN) code is multiplied with rectangular sub-carriers in one or several stages. Sine and cosine binary-offset-carrier (BOC) modulations are examples of modulations, which split the signal spectrum and create ambiguities in the envelope of the autocorrelation function (ACF) of the modulated signals. Thus, the acquisition of split-spectrum signals, based on the ambiguous ACF, poses some challenges, which might be overcome at the expense of higher complexity (e.g. by decreasing the step in searching the timing hypotheses). Recently, two techniques that deal with the ambiguities of the ACF have been proposed, and they were referred to as ,sideband (SB) techniques' (by Betz, Fishman et al.) or ,BPSK-like' techniques (by Martin, Heiries et al.), since they use SB correlation channels and the obtained ACF looks similar to the ACF of a BPSK-modulated PRN code. These techniques allow the use of a higher search step compared with the ambiguous ACF situation. However, both these techniques use SB-selection filters and modified reference PRN codes at the receivers, which affect the implementational complexity. Moreover, the ,BPSK-like' techniques have been so far studied for even BOC-modulation orders (i.e. integer ratio between the sub-carrier frequency and the chip rate) and they fail to work for odd BOC-modulation orders (or equivalently for split-spectrum signals with significant zero-frequency content). We propose here three reduced-complexity methods that remove the ambiguities of the ACF of the split-spectrum signals and work for both even and odd BOC-modulation orders. Two of the proposed methods are extensions of the previously mentioned techniques, and the third one is introduced by the authors and called the unsuppressed adjacent lobes (UAL) technique. We argue via theoretical analysis the choice of the parameters of the proposed methods and we compare the alternative methods in terms of complexity and performance. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Reproducibility and dependence on diffusion weighting of line scan diffusion in the lumbar intervertebral discsJOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, Issue 4 2005David C. Newitt PhD Abstract Purpose To investigate the dependence of line scan diffusion imaging (LSDI) in the lumbar vertebral discs on diffusion weighting, fat suppression (FS), and postprocessing noise correction. Materials and Methods Eleven normal volunteers were scanned using 4 b-value and 12 b-value LSDI protocols, with and without FS. Three repeated four b-value scans were performed for evaluation of the reproducibility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values calculated with mono- and biexponential decay models. Two-point ADC analysis for 12 b-value scans was performed with and without noise correction to evaluate the ADC dependence on diffusion weighting. Correlations between different ADC calculation and acquisition methods were evaluated. Results Monoexponential ADC measures had a coefficient of variation (CV) under 3%, while use of a constrained biexponential increased the CV to 6% to 9%. Strong dependence on b-value was seen from chemically shifted marrow fat signal and noise. These systematic variations in ADC were eliminated using noise correction and FS. ADC values from 4 and 12 b-value FS scans correlated strongly (R2 = 0.91), while biexponentially derived ADC values correlated moderately well with the FS ADC (R2 = 0.51). Conclusion LSDI gives reproducible ADC measurements in the lumbar discs, largely independent of b-value and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) when used with noise correction and FS. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2005;21:482,488. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Enhanced visualization of histological samples with an adjustable RGB contrast system with application for tissue used in photodynamic therapyMICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 6 2008Wilma Regina Barrionuevo Abstract The analysis of histological sections has long been a valuable tool in the pathological studies. The interpretation of tissue conditions, however, relies directly on visual evaluation of tissue slides, which may be difficult to interpret because of poor contrast or poor color differentiation. The Chromatic Contrast Visualization System (CCV) combines an optical microscope with electronically controlled light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in order to generate adjustable intensities of RGB channels for sample illumination. While most image enhancement techniques rely on software post-processing of an image acquired under standard illumination conditions, CCV produces real-time variations in the color composition of the light source itself. The possibility of covering the entire RGB chromatic range, combined with the optical properties of the different tissues, allows for a substantial enhancement in image details. Traditional image acquisition methods do not exploit these visual enhancements which results in poorer visual distinction among tissue structures. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) procedures are of increasing interest in the treatment of several forms of cancer. This study uses histological slides of rat liver samples that were induced to necrosis after being exposed to PDT. Results show that visualization of tissue structures could be improved by changing colors and intensities of the microscope light source. PDT-necrosed tissue samples are better differentiated when illuminated with different color wavelengths, leading to an improved differentiation of cells in the necrosis area. Due to the potential benefits it can bring to interpretation and diagnosis, further research in this field could make CCV an attractive technique for medical applications. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] |